Post by garfield on Sept 28, 2012 21:56:31 GMT 10
Communications Minister Stephen Conroy says he has 'unfettered legal power'
FEDERAL Communications Minister Stephen Conroy has made a bizarre declaration about holding "unfettered legal power" over telecommunications regulation, claiming he would be able to tell Australian telcos to "wear red underpants on their head".
“The regulation of telecommunications powers in Australia is exclusively federal," Mr Conroy said during a speech to the Columbia Institute for Tele-Information conference in New York last week.
“I have unfettered legal power.
"If I say to everyone in this room ‘if you want to bid in our spectrum auction you’d better wear red underpants on your head’, I’ve got some news for you. You’ll be wearing them on your head.”
A video of his speech has been made available online.
Conroy was arguing against a proposal by the International Telecommunications Union to introduce a new sender party pays regime for international internet settlements - a move that could push up the price of broadband in Australia.
The senator claimed the proposal could see telcos charged more for cable access, the costs of which could ultimately be passed onto consumers and said the government would consider creating its own subsea cable.
His comments were derided by Opposition spokesperson for Communication, Malcolm Turnbull, who said his speech showed he was a "control freak".
“As Mark Twain said confessions are good for the soul but bad for the reputation but never more so than when a cabinet minister confesses to rampant megalomania.”
Comment is being sought from Senator Conroy.
FEDERAL Communications Minister Stephen Conroy has made a bizarre declaration about holding "unfettered legal power" over telecommunications regulation, claiming he would be able to tell Australian telcos to "wear red underpants on their head".
“The regulation of telecommunications powers in Australia is exclusively federal," Mr Conroy said during a speech to the Columbia Institute for Tele-Information conference in New York last week.
“I have unfettered legal power.
"If I say to everyone in this room ‘if you want to bid in our spectrum auction you’d better wear red underpants on your head’, I’ve got some news for you. You’ll be wearing them on your head.”
A video of his speech has been made available online.
Conroy was arguing against a proposal by the International Telecommunications Union to introduce a new sender party pays regime for international internet settlements - a move that could push up the price of broadband in Australia.
The senator claimed the proposal could see telcos charged more for cable access, the costs of which could ultimately be passed onto consumers and said the government would consider creating its own subsea cable.
His comments were derided by Opposition spokesperson for Communication, Malcolm Turnbull, who said his speech showed he was a "control freak".
“As Mark Twain said confessions are good for the soul but bad for the reputation but never more so than when a cabinet minister confesses to rampant megalomania.”
Comment is being sought from Senator Conroy.
